Malachi Toney made plenty of headlines with what he did on the field last season, but it sounds like he’s making just as much of an impact behind the scenes.
When asked about the sophomore wide receiver, Miami running back Mark Fletcher had nothing but praise.
“Definitely he’s stepping up in that leadership role.”
That’s not a comment to take lightly, especially coming from Fletcher. The veteran running back is coming off a standout season where he rushed for 1,192 yards and 12 touchdowns, establishing himself as one of the leaders of Miami’s offense. For him to recognize Toney’s growth says a lot about the respect the young receiver has earned inside the locker room.
Toney backed up the hype as a freshman in 2025. He finished the season with 109 receptions for 1,211 yards and 10 touchdowns, quickly becoming one of the Hurricanes most reliable weapons and one of the most productive young receivers in college football. Now, heading into his second season, it looks like he’s taking on an even bigger role.
Leadership isn’t always about being the loudest voice in the room. Sometimes it’s about setting the standard every day, whether that’s during workouts, practice, or in the meeting room. According to Fletcher, that’s exactly what Toney has been doing.
With experienced players like Fletcher recognizing his leadership and his production already speaking for itself, Toney has all the tools to become one of the faces of Miami football. If his sophomore season is anything like his first, Hurricanes fans could be watching one of the nation’s top receivers continue to grow into one of the program’s biggest leaders.
When asked about the sophomore wide receiver, Miami running back Mark Fletcher had nothing but praise.
“Definitely he’s stepping up in that leadership role.”
That’s not a comment to take lightly, especially coming from Fletcher. The veteran running back is coming off a standout season where he rushed for 1,192 yards and 12 touchdowns, establishing himself as one of the leaders of Miami’s offense. For him to recognize Toney’s growth says a lot about the respect the young receiver has earned inside the locker room.
Toney backed up the hype as a freshman in 2025. He finished the season with 109 receptions for 1,211 yards and 10 touchdowns, quickly becoming one of the Hurricanes most reliable weapons and one of the most productive young receivers in college football. Now, heading into his second season, it looks like he’s taking on an even bigger role.
Leadership isn’t always about being the loudest voice in the room. Sometimes it’s about setting the standard every day, whether that’s during workouts, practice, or in the meeting room. According to Fletcher, that’s exactly what Toney has been doing.
With experienced players like Fletcher recognizing his leadership and his production already speaking for itself, Toney has all the tools to become one of the faces of Miami football. If his sophomore season is anything like his first, Hurricanes fans could be watching one of the nation’s top receivers continue to grow into one of the program’s biggest leaders.
